Guest blogger and KCFS intern Jenn continues her travel recap to India with Part 2!

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Food is everywhere in India – from vendors selling fresh produce on the street to food stalls lining the sidewalks for those looking for a quick snack. Whether you’re looking for an icy treat to beat the heat or a savory bite like fried samosa, there’s something for everyone.

While locals have the luxury of eating as they please, outside travelers have to be weary of the food they choose to eat to avoid the much feared “Delhi belly”. In order to combat this, I had to be very selective of what street foods I could eat, but in the end, I definitely indulged.

My favorite street food by far is pushka (or pani puri, depending what part of the country you’re in). Start off with a puffed ball of semolina dough that has been fried to crispy perfection. Poke a little hole on one end to make room for a spoonful of filling made from potatoes, onion, and masala spices. Then, pour in some sauce made from tamarind paste and lemon juice. Lastly, enjoy it altogether in one perfect bite!

My husband Cliff, myself, and his cousin enjoying a fresh pushka!

It’s the perfect combination of sweet, savory, spicy, and tangy!

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Stay tuned for Part 3!

Guest blogger and KCFS Intern Jenn Chong shares her recent travel stories while exploring India. Here’s Part 1 of her 3 part series.

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Hello all! I’m Jenn and I’m pleased to share some of my culinary experiences from my travels to India. The idea of Indian food probably conjures up images of super spicy food that can be too hot to handle. And while that may be true to a certain degree, India is a vast and varied country with regional cuisines appropriate for any palate.

Today, I bring you to Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta) where the food tends to be sweeter, milder in spice, and with slight tinges of sour. Located in the northeastern part of India, food from this area is often referred to as Bengali cuisine.

Bengali cuisine is famous for its fresh fish and seafood, cooked as curries or steamed in banana leaves. Sweet flavors come from the use of unrefined cane sugar called ‘jaggery’, and the sour flavors come from heavier use of tamarind paste. My favorite dish by far was the jumbo prawn curry, which was absolutely delish (see below)!

Chingri Malai

Basanti Pulao (seasoned rice), naan, Echor-er Dalna (jackfruit curry)
Dak Bangla Chicken Curry, Hilsa Fish Mustard Curry, Chingri Malai

Sweets are an important part of Bengali cuisine and choices for desserts are limitless. From mishti doi (sweet yogurt) to kheer (rice pudding) to smaller confections like rasgulla, ladoo, and cham-chams, there is no such thing as a bad decision! The food in this region was so delicious it was hard to leave, but I knew there was still much more to explore and eat.

Small selection of sweet treats!

Mishti doi with fresh fruit

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Stay tuned for Part 2!

My Holiday Extravaganza and “Over 21” Real Fruit Cakes!

That’s right mark your calendars for:
Saturday December 14th – 11AM – 7 PM
at the Food Studios in Ballard

And come join us for a tasty Open House. We will be serving up lots of tasty sips and apps and I will be signing copies of my books Sips & Apps and my most recent D’Lish Deviled Eggs – yes, there will be lots of samples!

We will be selling all kinds of tasty treats, including our ever popular “Over 21” Real Fruit Cakes made with Maker’s Mark (also available for purchase online), Dish D’Lish® specialty products, Kathy Casey Liquid Kitchen® bar goods, and all the tasty treats we have been putting up and baking like busy holiday elves!

“Over 21” Real Fruit Cake made with Maker’s Mark
(Check our YouTube video on how we make it!)

Stop by for a chat and load up on some holiday cheer! I hope to see you there!

The New Liquid Kitchen Website is Live!

I am very excited to announce that we just launched a brand new website for the beverage arm of my business Kathy Casey Liquid Kitchen®! Come check out and see we’re up to, meet my team members; watch an episode of my Cocktail Show and check out the recipe section for lots of great cocktail inspiration. Visit often for great cocktail and spirit news.

Like this post on why I’m obsessed with Flash Blending – a technique used in my fave holiday cocktail, Snow Drift

Sips & Apps – D’Lish eBook Deal!!

It’s the holidays and Chronicle Books is celebrating with a special online deal! My Sips & Apps is one of their best nine holiday ebooks picked for their special “Tis the Season Sale.” For the entire month of December, ebook versions of Sips & Apps (available on Kindle, iBookstore, NOOK, Google play, and Kobo) are 75% off – $2.99!

Tasty Travels – Fundraiser – Events

Since my last Newsletter, the team and I have been non-stop from fundraisers to conferences and exciting new client projects. Here is a fun overview of our adventures:

Adventure Race for Parkinson’s
Heather, Erwin and Jason dressed up in their superhero onesies for the first ever scavenger hunt/race for Parkinson’s. That day was filled with lots of “call-ins” and computer searching!

Go Team Onesie!
The KCFS crew all dressed up for the 1st annual Adventure Race for Parkinson’s!

Fabulous Fungi
Wild mushroom hunting has to be one of my most favorite things to do. I became a member of the Puget Sound Micological Society over 20 years ago at the urging of dear friend and mycophagist Patrice Benson and have been hooked ever since. Patrice organized the cooking demo station at the annual show for years, and in her memory, I have been volunteering to cook up wild mushroom demos ever since.

This year the society celebrated its 50^th anniversary. I’m always asking foodie friends to join and so this year my longtime friend and salon owner/hairstylist glitterati Marco joined me; he is a great cook! We had a great day of sharing mushroom dishes with the crowd!

This year’s weather was so perfect for mushrooms: rain, sun, rain sun… It was the most wild mushrooms that I have ever seen at the show – nature certainly cooperated this year! If you like foraging and fungi then check with your local wild mushrooms clubs to learn more and join in the fun! Spring morels will be here in no time!

Marco & I and a bounty of Lion’s Mane mushrooms!!

Shaking it up with Sunkist
Meanwhile KCFS team members Heather and Jason headed down to New Orleans for the annual PMA Fresh Summit Conference with Sunkist! They shook up refreshing Grapefruit Honey Ginger Fizzes (fresh grapefruit juice and honey ginger syrup then topped with soda water) at the Sunkist Booth.

Heather and Jason serving a fresh Grapefruit Honey Ginger Fizz!

Serious Sippin’ at Portland Cocktail Week
While they were in New Orleans, I was off to Portland Cocktail Week to be on the “How to be a Consultant” panel. This industry only event had bartenders coming from all over the US to participate in a week of classes and seminars… of course followed by lots of great parties.

Karlyn Monroe and the Pernod Ricard team stop to pose for a fun photo at the industry party.
My favorite drink of the night was a Pernod & Hot Chocolate with Homemade Marshmallows!

Dame Good Fundraiser
After a little breather, I was off to emcee the annual auction for the Les Dames d’Escoffier – Seattle Chapter. This women-only international organization supports women in the food & beverage industry. The theme for this year’s auction was “There is Nothing Like a Dame” and featured my South Seas Sparkling Punch as the signature cocktail! The Seattle Chapter event raisee over $140,000 for culinary scholarships for women!

The Liquid Kitchen team synchronized shaking at the Dames Fundraiser!
Erwin – Jason – Keith
(Photo courtesy of Katherine Kehrli.)

The Evening’s Cocktail: South Seas Sparkling Punch

Shaking and Cooking it up in the Media

My Citrus Scandi featured in Food & Wine Magazine

Cocktails in NY with Martin Miller’s
In November, I headed to New York for a special media tour and paring dinner with Martin Miller’s Gin. The dinner was at the famed 11 Madison Park restaurant. I created 5 cocktails and worked with Chef Brian Lockwood on the dinner pairings, bar manager Leo Robitschek executed the drinks with his bartenders. The food was amazing and our cocktail pairing collaboration was a hit! Food, cocktails, service … It’s not often I say FLAWLESS! The guest list was pretty spectacular – CNN, Martha Stewart Living, Food and Wine, Bon Appetit, Saveur, and the list goes on – very exciting!

The whole theme on my Martin Miller’s holiday cocktails was: don’t get stuck behind the bar. Go enjoy your party and make party imbibing by pre-batching your cocktails hours (if not days before)! Check out some of the recipes in the Examiner, Chicagoist, and the UK’s Ideal Magazine!

My Ruby Spiced Martini

Holiday Sips & Apps in the Seattle Times
For those of you that remember my column Dishing with Kathy Casey in the Seattle Times – it was great to do a special feature all about easy holiday entertaining. I include some do-ahead cocktails as well as delicious appetizers like Sticky Pomegranate Chicken Wings; Siracha Deviled Eggs with Crunchy Cucumber and Shrimp; and Warm Crab Dip with Mushroom and Brie served with Sea Salt and Thyme Crostini. All modern twists on favorites, with lots of do-ahead components so you’re not stuck in the kitchen at your holiday party!

Need a Holiday Party Appetizer – I’ve got you covered!

Mushrooms sautéing up for Warm Crab Dip in my favorite Cuisinart Pan!

It’s All Things Peppermint at Dish D’Lish

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday air travel, make sure to stay recharged and stop by Dish D’Lish at the Sea-Tac Airport. Whether you’re traveling by yourself or meeting someone, we have a café pre- and post-security. And for some holiday cheer we are featuring Peppermint Crush Cupcake, Frosty Peppermint Latte and Candy Cane Cocoa – all topped with Hammond’s handmade candy canes.

Peppermint Crush Cupcakes

For an in-flight treat or a little something to take home grab a signature candy cane or Candy Cane Crunch Chocolate bar. Yum! And be sure to check out all our other new menu items, including lots of gluten free options.

Traveling and need to pick up a great gift? Sea-Tac Airport is full of fun places to shop; check out this special on New Day Northwest for ideas!

Happy Holidays and a Joyful New Year!

I am grateful for such a wonderful year with amazing clients, wonderful co-workers and friends and family.

Wishing you a joyful holiday season with friends and family. I look forward to sharing lots of delicious new projects and travels with you in the New Year! –Kathy

Don’t forget to join me on my blog Dishing with Kathy Casey and weekends on KOMO News Radio for all things d’lish, including recipes, tips, and fun events.

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Follow on Twitter @KathyCaseyChef. Blogging: Dishing with Kathy Casey.
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Read: D’Lish Deviled Eggs. Watch: www.LiquidKitchen.tv.
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Twelve year old super foodie Carter McCarroll is our guest blogger today. I asked him to share his culinary adventures on his first trip to Japan this past summer (I’m jealous as I’ve never been there except for layovers in the Delta lounge!). Here’s part 1 of this young man’s trip.

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Hello, my name Is Carter McCarroll. I am a twelve year old boy with a thirst for adventure. I live in Hinsdale, Illinois and I just started going to Hinsdale Middle School. My dad works for Kerry, a company that supplies food and beverage ingredients.

One of the main reasons I wanted to go to Japan was the food, but there are many reasons why I love food. Foods from around the world have so much rich history, different textures, and techniques for cooking certain foods. There’s just a whole variety of them! I especially like Japanese food. I just love the intense flavor of sushi when It’s dipped in soy sauce (with bits of wasabi in it) and topped with ginger. I also admire the Japanese udon noodle bowl. Noodles have always been my favorite food and I thought it couldn’t get any better until I tried the Japanese noodle bowl – in Japan! Which I will get into more detail later. That pretty much sums up why I love food, especially Japanese food.

We left for Japan on July 21 (a day that I’ll always remember). My dad and I planned that moment for such a long time and the day was finally there and it would just be the two of us flying! I was overwhelmed with excitement. I knew that I’d miss the rest of my family while I was away, since I had never been away from them for so long, nevertheless I couldn’t wait to fly to Japan.

When the plane landed, my dad and I felt an urge to eat noodles (even though It was 3 AM in Illinois). So after nearly four hours of train rides from Narita airport to Tokyo, we finally arrived at the hotel. There were a few Japanese restaurants nearby, so we decided to go to one of them. Luckily for us, our waitress could speak a little English. I ordered a beef noodle bowl that came with a side of rice and tempura. After we ordered, I felt so tired that I could just fall asleep sitting right there (It was 7 AM in Hinsdale and I still hadn’t slept – not even on the plane). I was just about to fall asleep when the waitress placed our food on the table. Even though I was literally half asleep, I dug into my food until there was nothing left. Even the rice was about 5 times better than I usually have back in the U.S. I loved the broth for the noodles. The mixture of everything was almost perfect…… then it was back to the hotel… of course we fell asleep almost immediately.

Our hotel room’s view of Tokyo

The next day was officially my 12th birthday. We were planning to do a whole lot of exploring that day, but kept it more low-key thanks to jet-lag. After a long day and a nap, we went to a local outdoor restaurant. I still wasn’t very hungry, but I ate something anyway.  The best fried rice I ever had! It had the perfect warmth, mixture, and balanced flavor.

I felt a lot better the next day. We started off with breakfast in the hotel (which was fantastic!). There was sausages, eggs, noodles, miso soup, steamed rice with many toppings, a whole selection of breads, and so much more. After breakfast we took a cab to see some temples. Then we walked to Shibuya crossing, the busiest street crossing in the world!

Waiting our turn to cross at the busiest intersection in Tokyo!

After some more exploring, we headed back to the hotel to have a snack. We decided to share a small pizza at an Italian restaurant down the street from the hotel. We were actually surprised by how good that pizza was. This pizza was just a margherita. I’m not going to go into much detail about this, but let me just tell you – if you ever travel to Tokyo, stay in the Westin Hotel, and then if you’re In the mood for pizza, go there – its right in front of the hotel.

One of the best pizzas that I’ve ever had!

That night, we ate at a fancy Michelin star sushi restaurant. When our taxi dropped us off, it took us a while to find the entrance, but eventually we did. The first thing that caught my eye when we walked in was that this was actually a sushi bar. No tables anywhere and everyone looked so sophisticated. We sat down next to an elderly Japanese couple and right away, the waitress came and asked us what we would like…in Japanese. She was expecting us to instantly know what we were getting, but without an English-translated menu. I’m guessing that the people that come here are mostly regulars.

Me in front of the “hidden” entrance

My dad finally worked up the nerve to order with some finger pointing and limited Japanese. Our first course came ….it was a mushroom thing and some other seaweed stuff.

I didn’t even dare to try some. Especially after my dad did and said he didn’t like it at all. Next came some nicely cut raw tuna. Finally something that I could eat! It was magnificent! This tender, delicate delight was a perfectly cut juicy piece of tuna that I will never forget.

After that, we ordered some tempura. What came as a surprise was they also had fried corn! It was wonderfully sweet and savory at the same time! That was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten in my whole entire life. I think my dad liked it better than I did – he kept on talking about how brilliant it was.

Finally, we finished off with some miso soup – which was even better than the miso we had at the hotel. It was perfect blend of warm flavors. After that fabulous meal, we called it a day.

After 2 days of being In Tokyo, it was time to go to Kyoto. This used to be the capital city of the country. There are loads of very old temples with many mountains surrounding it and it’s the culinary capitol of Japan. To be continued…. – Carter McCarroll

What do you get when you combine thousands of mixologists, spirit industry professionals, bar enthusiasts and a lot of libations together in New Orleans? Tales of the Cocktail, of course! Like a five day summer camp for the best and brightest in the spirits industry, Tales is THE highlight of the bartender circuit. Held annually in New Orleans, the week features seminars, parties, and cocktailing galore in this boozy 24-hour playground. It can be a liver workout – trust me!

Guest Mixologists shaking up and showing off their creations at the Diageo USS World Class Happy Hour event: Tony Devencenzi, Beckaly Franks and Tim Cooper

The Competitive Spirit at Tales

Mixologists love to collaborate, but they also love to compete! And competitions abound at Tales, from this year’s challenge to create the best spin on the Rickey for the title of Official Cocktail of TOTC’13 to the Stoli Most Original Bartender competition and the Cocktails on Tap Contest sponsored by Drambuie.

Jacob Greer’s Portland Rickey – official cocktail of Tales of the Cocktail 2013

Reading, Learning, Shopping….Boozy Style!
No trip to Tales is complete without a stop at the TOTC Bookstore by Octavia Books. It is the definitive place to go for spirited books. All the new boozy tomes are there, from Molly Wellman’s Handcrafted Cocktails to bar pal Matt Seiter’s The Dive Bar of Cocktail Bars which was a top 10 nominee for Tales’ Spirited Awards best new book. And this year they also incorporated a Bitters Market featuring a huge array of bitters — it’s hard to control yourself in there! So many great new books and bitters… HIDE my credit card!!!

Molly with her new book, Handcrafted Cocktails!

And speaking of shops, Cocktail Kingdom transformed the Hotel Monteleone’s gift shop into a Pop-Up! Sparkly cut-glass yari cocktail mixing pitchers, gold stirring spoons, ice ball molding machines, sexy jiggers… if you have never shopped their site check it out – it’s my go-to for unique barware and cool cocktail products.

There were a lot of great panels and seminars but my favorite was “Fun with Hydrocolloids”. Molecular mixology and its techniques can sometimes be a bit intimidating but this crash course on hydrocolloids and its many uses was enlightening! They presented on the different types and what their textures were like – it was great for attendees to experience and feel these in a comparison tasting.

Sazerac in an “Edible” Absinthe Shot Glass

I enjoy making cocktail gelees for seminars and love to discuss how “eating” liquor is so much different than drinking it, so I was very intrigued by the panelists take on a Sazerac. The drink was presented in an edible absinthe-infused gelee shot glass! Fair warning – spirited gelees look innocent enough, but their boozy bite might sneak up on you!

Those that know me well know that I am a garnish freak… I’ll admit that I can sometimes to get carried away. From edible gold flakes to baby coconuts and fluffy fire sticks…..I just love a good garnish! Garnishes are the finishing touches on our cocktail experience, and Francesco LaFranconi and Charlotte Voisey led a seminar about that very subject.  “Hey, Good-Looking” went through the history and functionality of garnishes and how to really jazz up your cocktail.

I love Edible Fire Sticks for Garnish

The Ladies were in the House!
The west coast has always led the country in the local and sustainable food movement, and it’s evident in our many restaurants and bars installing everything from full working gardens to beehives on their premises. The trend is sweeping across the country, and Amy Stewart -also known as the Drunken Botanist- and Susan Morrison captured the essence in their panel, “Successful Bar Gardens”. These two ladies brought their considerable know-how and sage advice about all things green and gave us a panel chock-full of ways to put your green thumb to work for you and your bar, and the benefits having fresh produce right at your fingertips. And if that has your interest peaked check out my blog that I did on Amy’s Book The Drunken Botanist.

Amy Stewart’s The Drunken Botanist

Speaking of the ladies: women were definitely shaking things up this year! Bombay Sapphire Gin Most Imaginative Bartender All-Stars Competition was won by a woman for the first time in Tales history! Miami’s Cricket Nelson took gold with her “Sapphire East Love Game”, a delicious elixir crafted with Earl Grey tea, rosebud syrup and fresh Thai basil. Yum!

Cricket Nelson serving up her winning “Sapphire East Love Game” cocktail.

And then there were the Tastings….
All day, every day, spread throughout the city, from rum and mezcal to vermouth and champagne. Having just come back from Peru and a tour of the Porton distillery, I had to visit the Pisco Pavilion for a taste of my travels! Can I just say that Pisco Sour is my favorite new drink!

Inspired by Tales – A Passion Fruit Pisco Porton Sour with Edible Baby Orchid I made at the Recent Flavor Experience Conference with Monin

And then it was on to all the special events that take place – the USS Diageo World Class Happy Hour for a libatious trip around the Mediterranean with featured cocktails with some of my favorite mixologists. Next it was off to see Liquid Kitchen associate Danny Ronen at the Krug House Champagne Tasting where he welcomed guests with ice-cold glasses of bubbles – a bit of a welcome reprieve from all those cocktails!

Me enjoying the Krug House champagne tasting party with famed mixologist Francesco Lafranconi
photo by Danny Ronen

Spirited Dinners…
…are always the highlight of Thursday night. And this year I attended the Beam Great Whisk(e)y Debate. Held at the Bourbon House Restaurant, this spirited showdown aimed to determine once and for all what America’s favorite whisky is! Fred Noe III, 7th generation Master Distiller for Jim Beam, squared off against Kieran Folliard (Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey Ambassador), Dan Tullio (Canadian Club Ambassador) and Simon Brooking (Laphroaig Single Malt Scotch Ambassador ) and engaged in a good-natured -but not without much teasing, elbowing and well-meaning jibes- debate. Everyone fought valiantly, but in the end, and in the spirit of good sportsmanship, the moderator called a draw. We were more than happy to continue debating amongst ourselves over courses of whisky, naturally!

The lords of whisky at The Great Whisk(e)y Debate – Simon Brooking, Kieran Folliard, Fred Booker Noe III and Dan Tullio – Yes! There were pins to support your favorite whisk(e)y guy.

The Spirited Awards
The Spirited Awards are the capstone event, honoring the cocktail industry’s top dogs over the past year. This year’s theme was The Roaring 20’s by way of The Great Gatsby, which was the perfect way to honor all things libatious!  And I want to give a special congratulations shout out to Charles Joly beverage director of The Aviary in Chicago on his win as American Bartender of the Year. I recently visited Charles at The Aviary on a trip to Chicago and had some of the best cocktails of my life – and that is no small claim considering how many I’ve tasted in my time! A well-deserved win!

And then there is all the swag that has to find a place in my suitcase:
One of the coolest perks of attending Tales of the Cocktail is the mysterious curtained-off lagniappe room.  Presenters, media and VIP’s were given a special bottle cap to obtain entry into the swag room and an “all you can fill bag”, then let loose upon the mountains of swag! I stuffed my bag with all sorts of goodies – from bar tools to key chains, little bottles of amaro, swizzle sticks, a handy compact raincoat – I’m from Seattle, of course I needed that! – and tons more boozy mementos of my wonderful time at Tales.

Tales Swag

Leaving Tales is always bittersweet – I love learning new things and seeing my cocktail friends from all over the world, but eventually you’re up to your eyeballs in drinks and the floor at the Hotel Monteleone starts to just get a bit too sticky… that means it’s time to head home! See you next year at Tales!

-Kathy

Seattle Magazine just posted my special piece covering this year’s Tales of the Cocktail. Check out my guest blog, Mixing It Up at Tales Of The Cocktail 2013!

D’lish Deviled Eggs

My 10^th cookbook D’Lish Deviled Eggs has HATCHED! Deviled eggs are always a party favorite and the first to fly off the table. With 54 tried-and-tested (thanks KCFS team!) recipes, my new book takes my love for this people-pleasing appetizer from traditional to creative. From the Classic Picnic-Style to Beet’ing Heart, there is definitely an egg recipe for everyone. Yum! One of my absolute favorite recipes from D’Lish Deviled Eggs is my “California Roll” Deviled Egg”, topped with Alaska King crab – YUM! Try this one out for a sushi-twist! And for more d’lish egg recipes and tips, check out my new website www.DLishDeviledEggs.com for all things Deviled Eggs!

“California Roll” Deviled Eggs – D’lish!
(Book Cover & photo by Kathy Casey Food Studios from D’Lish Deviled Eggs)

For more D’Lish Deviled Egg tips, check out my segment on King 5’s New Day Northwest.

Behind the scenes at New Day Northwest!

Culination!

Out to revolutionize the way people learn how to cook (while also learning about wine and make cocktails of course!), Culination is a cool new e-learning platform that is mobile/tablet friendly, very engaging, and will work with voice command as well. But the Culination team needs your help! If you’re interested and want to learn fun recipes from taste makers like myself, Thirsty Girl’s Leslie Sbrocco, restaurateur Ethan Stowell, PBS cooking veteran Joanne Weir, award winning chef Jason Wilson and others, then help spread the word and donate through the Indiegogo Campaign. Even $5 will help. So please join us and become a Culinator!

If you want to hear all about it in detail then check out pal Siiri Sampson’s blog for the whole scoop!

Tasty Travels & Fun Events

Since January, it has been non-stop traveling and great events like Speed Rack – Seattle! Speed Rack is a Sassy National Competition created by and for female bartenders, pitting them against each other in a round robin style timed challenge – check out this video teaser on YouTube.

Alongside fellow guest judges Rob Roy’s Anu Apte, Drink Boy’s Robert Hess, and Pegu Club’s Audrey Saunders, we watched, tasted and critiqued as these mistresses behind the bar worked their cocktail magic.

The Judges!

The finals are coming up this month in New York – so if you’re in the area on May 16^th, come cheer on the finalists! Make sure to get your tickets soon.

The Northwest Speed Rack Ladies!

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Shortly right after, it was time to fly out the door again – from St. Louis to Boston and then to Las Vegas for the industry annual VIBE Conference! Hosted in the always faboo Las Vegas, this annual event brings in spirits industry leaders and taste makers for a jam-packed two days full of seminars, panels, presentations…and of course tastings!

At the opening Pour It On reception, we teamed up with Monin and William Grant & Sons and crafted a crowd favorite: the Berries & Brimstone cocktail featuring Monin’s new Hickory Smoke Syrup.

Shaking up a Berries & Brimstone!
(Photos by Ernie Sapiro)

First, we mixed the smoke syrup with Everclear to make a flammable mist. We dropped a dry bay leaf into an Old Fashioned glass, spritzed it liberally with the mist, and flamed it to char the leaf. Then we shook up Milagro Reposado tequila and a few fresh blackberries with fresh lime and Monin Blackberry… then poured it over the flaming leaf. This process added a rich layer of flavor to the drink, balancing the sweet, tart and savory.

The following day, I teamed up with my Liquid Kitchen associate Dänny Ronen and bar managers/mixologists Matt Seiter from Sancturia in St. Louis and Kevin Diedrich from Jasper’s Corner Tap in San Francisco, to present a panel on one of the hottest up-and-coming trends – Tapping Potential: Cocktails On Tap!

Seminar in session
(Photos by Heather Jones and Ernie Sapiro)

Kevin and Matt did a “live demo” on tapping a cocktail, and then Liquid Kitchen’s Heather Jones proceeded to serve over 60 cocktails in just a few minutes. The whole process from the tapping demo to serving cocktails in front of the attendees was less than 7 minutes – now that’s some fast service!

Cocktails on Tap Panel with Matt, Dänny, Kevin and myself.
(Photo courtesy of Ernie Sapiro)

And to top off a great week the Fairmont Hotel’s & Resort won the VIBE Vista award for Best Spirits Program for Hotels, Cruise Lines, & Casinos for their FAME program (that Liquid Kitchen created and has managed since 2006) – exciting!!!

Congrats to the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts for winning 2013 Best Spirits Program award!

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Next it was off to Driscoll’s berry farms with an amazing group of top bloggers. I absolutely love berries so I was definitely in berry-licious heaven while learning a lot about berries. We got to taste new varieties of berries right in the fields and met the young “Dr. Strawberry” who shared with us how they are constantly improving Driscoll’s berry varieties – sweeeet! Check out my blog for my tasty Billowing Strawberry Poppy Seed Layer Cake and Strawberry Shag Cocktail recipes.

The next day the group headed to the annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine. I really enjoyed meeting and hanging out with some of my favorite bloggers like the Intoxicologist, Blender Girl, Food in Jars, and Health & Wellness expert Ani Phyo during this tasty weekend full of demos, seminars and parties!

Yes, I LOVE raspberries this much!

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Then it was off to Kentucky for the Beam Pinnacle of Mixology event to lead a fun Pinnacle Cocktails and Techniques Inspired from the Kitchen seminar. Heather Jones and I showed techniques for a “new school” Chi Chi: shaking up fresh Pineapple-Agave, Pinnacle Vodka, and fresh lime – then topped it with Coconut Milk Foam and a “carbonated” cherry – fun!

Preparing for my seminar

Dispensing Salted Caramel Whipped “Mochas!”

Other topics included cocktail umami like in my Garden Oasis cocktail – vodka, hand-pressed basil, celery and cucumber (celery adds a salty touch and an umami note), shaken with a lemon elixir. We garnished this with plumped basil seeds, adding a super cool texture to the cocktail.

We then finished off our presentation with a cool technique I learned from Johannes Roiner, Head of Culinary Strategy at iSi. He taught me that coffee has proteins in it and when combined with a little syrup, liquor, and ice then charged and shaken – you can have a super frothy espresso cocktail. Voila – thus the Salted Carmel Whipped Mocha!

Serious Sippin’ with the Liquid Kitchen

Make sure to stay tuned for my brand new episodes of my Liquid Kitchen cocktail show with Small Screen Network! Filming of Season 4 has just wrapped up. New episodes include: Berries & Bubbles, Pineapple Mezcal Cooler, and more. In the meantime, try my Gin with Housemade Bitter Lemon and Soda for a refreshing springtime drink!

Erwin “guarding” the big bowl of Sparkling Tradewinds Punch with Bitter Truth & Cherry Ice Balls

Behind the scenes of Liquid Kitchen with the Small Screen crew!

D’Lish Book Reads

Here are some of my new favorite reads – I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

The Drunken Botanist by Amy Stewart
Do you ever stop to think about the garnishes, liqueurs and syrups you put in your favorite cocktails? Amy Stewart, author of The Drunken Botanist, definitely has! Amy’s guide to backyard bartending isn’t your standard neighborhood cocktail recipe book. She has uncovered some seriously cool history on some common, and some not-so-common cocktail ingredients, such as corn and agave to barley and lemon verbena. Check out her funny promo vid, too!

The 50 Mile Bouquet by Debra Prinzing
Outdoor living specialist and author Debra Prinzing writes a great read on the slow flower movement in her latest book, The 50 Mile Bouquet. From organic flower farmers to the hot-topic of sustainability, Debra’s book is a great guide for those with a green thumb. I love to garden and this is definitely a must-read!

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Don’t forget to join me on my blog Dishing with Kathy Casey and weekends on KOMO News Radio for all things D’lish, including recipes, tips, and fun events. And grab a copy of Sip Northwest Magazine (available at my Dish D’Lish Seattle airport locations) and check out my Shake Swizzle & Stir column!

Here’s wishing you all a wonderful spring with many tasty adventures! –Kathy

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Follow on Twitter @KathyCaseyChef. Blogging: Dishing with Kathy Casey.
Like on Facebook: Sips & Apps and Kathy Casey’s Liquid Kitchen. Read: D’Lish Deviled Eggs.
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